Phonograph-brake



A. F. BRUHY.

PHONOGRAPH BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1920.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

vI NVE N T [3 QATTCIRNEV.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER F. BRUHY, OF PLYMOUTH, WISCONSIN.

PHONOGRAPH-BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

Application filed November 15, 1920. Serial No. 424,316.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ALEXANDER F BRUHY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Plymouth, in the county of Sheboygan and State of Visconsin,has invented a certain new and useful Phonograph-Brake, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates in general to improvements in the constructionand operation of devices for controlling the operation of soundreproducing machines, and relates more specifically to improvements inautomatic stop or brake mechanisms for phonographs and the like.

An object of the invention is to provlde an automatic stopping devicefor sound reproducing machines, which is simple in construction andefiicient in operation.

A number of the more specific objects of the invention are as follows Toprovide an exceedingly rapidly acting and positive brake for the movingelements of sound reproducing machines, which will entirely eliminateso-called drag on the records.

To provide a compact, automatic, sensitive and readily operable stop forphonograph motors, which will avoid danger of injuring the records.

To provide a phonograph brake which is readily applicable to most any ofthe standard disk record sound reproducing machines, and whicheliminates necessity of suspending elements constituting part of themechanism, from the tone arm of the phonograph.

To provide stop mechanism for phonographs in which the. various elementsare readily adjustable to produce most eflicient operation, and in whichthe parts are readily accessible for inspection and adjustment.

To provide a stop mechanism for sound reproducing machines, which may beneatly formed of sheet metal, which may be quickly assembled anddismantled, and which may be manufactured at minimum cost.

To provide other improvements in the manufacture and operation of brakemechanisms, which will facilitate the construction of such devices andwhich will enable them to most efliciently perform their functions.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of theoperation of a device constructed in accordance therewith,

may behad by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part ofthis specification, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts in the various views.

Figure 1 is a top view of a sound reproducing machine showing anautomatic stop applied thereto, the brake being set.

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged side elevation of the gripping device for holdingthe brake in released position, the View being taken along the lineII'II of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the grippingdevice, the section being taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrow.

'Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the grippingdevice, the sectionbeing taken along the line IVIV of F ig. 2, lookingin the direction'of the arrow.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the grippingdevice, the section being taken along the line V-V of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction of the arrow.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the brake, thesection being taken along the lineVI-VI of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

The sound reproducing machine or phonograph'to which the automatic stopor brake mechanism has been herein shown as applied, is of the diskrecord type and comprises a circular horizontal record support Brotatable about a central vertical spindle by means of a suitable motor,and a tone arm A swingable to and fro above the record support B about avertical axis located rearwardly of the periphery of the record support.The record support B is ordinarily formed of sheet material and has acylindrical peripheral downwardly projecting flange 25 formed integraltherewith. The swinging end of the tone arm A is ordinarily providedwith a reproducer having a needle which is adapted to engage the spiralgroove of a record resting upon the support B. As the support B isrotated, the spiral thread of the record urges the tone arm A toward theaxis of the support B.

The stop mechanism comprises a brake 4 pivotally supported upon a baseplate 1 by means of a pivot 24, an elongated arm 2 rigidly adjustablyassociated with the brake 4, a friction rod 21 associated with the endof the arm 2, a tension spring 6 connecting the base plate 1 with aportion of the arm 2 remote from the brake pivot 24, a pair of grippingjaws'7, 12 engageable with opposed surfaces or sides of the rod 21, acompression spring 17 for urging the jaws 7, 12 toward each other, andan adjustable releasing lever 18 for separating the jaws 7, 12 to permitsetting movement of the brake 4.

The brake 4 is provided with a renewable brake shoe which is directlyengageable with the inner surface of the, peripheral flange 25 of thesupport B. lVhile it is preferable to have the brake 4 engageable withthe inner surface of this flange or rim in order to avoid excessivenoise during setting of the brake, and also because the brake is thushidden from view by the turn table or sup port B, it is obvious that thebrake 4 may be placed in proximity to an outer surface of the support Bif so desired. The longitudi nal brake arm 2 is provided with anactuatinghandle 3 and is retained in position by the same pivot 24 whichcoacts with the brake 4, see Figs. 1 and 6. The arm 2 is rigidlyadjustably secured to the brake 4 by means of a clamping screw 5. Bymanipulating the screw 5, the brake 4 and, arm 2 may berelativelyangularly adjusted about their common pivot 24, to change the positionof the brake 4 relatively to the turn table rim. The tension spring 6which connects the arm 2 with the base plate 1, urges the brake 4towardthe turn table rim 25 and sets the brake 4 automatically when therod 21 is released. The base plate 1 isattached to the top of thephonograph cabinet by means of screws.

The brake arm 2 extends rearwardly underneath the record support B andhas its rear end connected with an end of the rod 2, the opposite end ofwhich rests between the local projections formed on a pad 13 of thestationary jaw 7, see Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The end of the rod 21 adjacentto the gripping jaws is provided with a fixed collar 22 and an upturnedportion 23 which form stops for limiting the longitudinal movement ofthe rod 21. The local pad'13 and the rod guiding projections thereon areformed by distorting the metal of the aw 7, with a die or the like, andthe jaw 7 is preferably secured to the top of the phonograph bymeans ofscrews. The stationary jaw 7 has an upwardly extending ear 8 formedintegral therewith, to whicha pivot 9 is rigidly secured. Upon the pivot9 is mounted a sleeve 11 which is held against endwise movement by thehead 10 on the pivot 9 and by the ear 8. The movablejaw 12 and theactuating lever 18 are mounted upon the sleeve 11, these elements beingseparated by a friction disk 19 against which the lever 18 is urged bymeans of a leaf spring 20, see

Figs..2, 3 and 4. The movable jaw 12 en gages an upper surface of theend of the riction rod 21 and is movable in the plane of the pad 13 andsubstantially at right angles to the plane of movement of the rod 21.

' The jaw 12 has a rear projection 14 provided with a lateral flange orprojection 15 to which a stop screw 16 is adjustably secured. The lowerextremity of the screw 16 is engageable with the end of the jaw 7 andlimits the extent of separation of the jaws 7, 12. A helicalcompressionspring 17 embraces the screw 16 and reacts against the endsof the jaws 7, 12 thereby urging these jaws toward each other andcausing the jaws to gently but firmly grip the intervening end of therod 21.

The normal operation of the stop mechanism is as follows. Assuming thebrake 4 to be set, that is, with its shoe in engagement with the turntable rim 25, if it is desired to set the stop mechanism so as to stopthe rotation of the support B at a predetermined time, the tone arm Amay be swung to the position in which it is desired to have the samewhen setting of the brake 4 is to occur. The lever 18 should then be setto a position of contact with the side'of the tone arm, such settingbeing readily permitted by the frictional connection between the lever18 and the movable jaw 12. After properly positioning the tone arm A soas to bring the reproducer needle to the periphery of the record,rotation of the support B may be. effected by swinging the brake 4 andbrake arm 2 inan anti-clockwise direction about their common pivot, withthe aid of the handle 3. "The brake 4 isthus released, the end of therod 21 sliding rearwardly between the jaws 7, 12 during the releasingmovement, and the brake 4 being held, in released posi tion by thegripping action of the aws 7, 12 as roduced by thespring 17.

s the tone arm A swings acrossthe support B, it eventually engages theupper end of the releasing lever 18. The moment the lever 18 is movedin'an anti-clockwise direetion as viewed inFig. 2, the movable jaw 12 isalso moved in a like direction against the, action of the spring 17, thefrictional connection between the'lever 18 and the jaw 12 beingsufficient to overcome the pressure exerted by the spring 17 withoutchanging the relative positions of the lever and jaw. As the movable jaw12 is elevated relatively to the pad 13 and local projections of thestationary jaw 7, the friction rod 21 1s released and the spring 6becomes effective to snap the brake 4 against the turn table rim therebystopping the support B.

From this description it will be obvious that the turn table or supportB may be ac curately stopped at any desired time and that such stoppageis effected substantially instantaneously and entirely without noisesuch as ordinarily results by releasing a latch or pawl. The rapidity ofaction of the stop entirely eliminates undesirable drag on the recordand thus avoids danger of in juring the record thread.

The stop mechanism is readily attachable to or removable from most anyof the standard disk record sound reproducing machines and necessity ofsuspending brake elements from the tone arm of the machine, is entirelyeliminated. The various elements of the machanism are quickly andaccurately adjustable to produce most efiicient operation and all partsare freely accessible by merely removing the record support B.

The several elements of the structure may be neatly formed with dies andscrew machines, and the device may be quickly assembled and dismantled.The parts when finished by plating present a. neat appearance, and mc ybe manufactured in quantity at exceedingly moderate cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact details herein shown and described, for obvious modificationswithin the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled inthe art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination,a movable'element, a movable brake for said element, means movable andassociated with said brake, gripping means frictionally engagable withsaid movable means to hold said brake in one position,and means forreleasing said gripping means to permit movement of said brake toanother position.

2. In combination, a movable element, a movable brake for-said element,means movable and associated with said brake, gripping means movabletransversely relatively to the direction of movement of said movablemeans to hold said brake in one position, and means for releasing saidgripping means to permit movement of said brake to another position.

3. In combination, a movable element, a movable brake for said element,means movable and associated with said brake, gripping meansfrictionally engageable with said movable means to hold said brake inreleased position, and means for releasing said gripping means at apredetermined time to permit setting movement of said brake.

4. In combination, a movable element, a movable brake for said element,means movable and associated with said brake, gripping means movabletransversely relatively to the direction of movement of said movablemeans to hold said brake in released position, and means for releasingsaid gripping means at a predetermined time to permit setting movementof said brake.

5. In combination, a turn table, a movable brake for said turn table,gripping means frictionally associable with said brake to hold the samein one position, and means for releasing said gripping means at apredetermined time to permit movement of said brake to another position.

6. In combination, a turn table, a brake movable into engagement withsaid turn table, gripping means frictionally associable with said braketo hold the same out of engagement with said turn table, and means forreleasing said gripping means to permit movement of said brake intoengagement with said turn table.

In combination, a turn table, a brake movable into engagement with saidturn table, gripping means for frictionally holding said brake inreleased position a lever movable in proximity to said turn table, andmeans operable by said lever to release said gripping means and topermit setting movement of said brake.

8. In combination, a turn table having a laterally projecting rim, abrake movable into engagement with the inner surface of said rim, meansfor frictionally holding said brake in released position, and meansoperable by the movement of said turn table to release said frictionalholding means and to permit movement of said brake into engagement withsaid rim.

9. In combination, a movable element, a brake for said element, and agripping device for holding said brake in a predetermined positionrelatively to said element, said gripping device comprising a pair ofrelatively movable jaws and means for urging said jaws against opposedsurfaces of a portion of said brake.

10. In combination, a movable element, a brake for said element, and agripping'device for holding said brake in released position, saidgripping device comprising a stationary jaw engageable with a portion ofsaid brake, a movable jaw engageable with the opposite side of saidbrake portion, and means for urging said jaws toward each other.

11. In combination, a movable element, a brake for said element having arod associated therewith, a gripping device engageable with opposedportions of said rod to hold said brake in a predetermined position, andmeans operable by said movable element to release said gripping device.

12. In combination, a brake, a gripping device for frictionally holdingsaid brake in released position, and means for varying the holdingpressure exerted by said gripping device.

13. In combination, a brake, a rod adjust ably associated with saidbrake, a pair of relatively movable jaws engageable with 0pposedportions of said rod, and means for urging said jaws against said rodportions to hold said brake in a predetermined position.

14:. In combination, a brake, a rod secured to said brake, a jawcoacting with a portion of said rod, a second jaw coacting with anopposed portion of said rod, and meansfor urging said jaws against theadjacent portions of said rod to hold said brake in a predeterminedposition.

15. In combination, a brake, a rod secured to said brake, a stationaryjaw engaging a lower portion of said rod, a movable jaw engageable withan upper portion of said rod, and resilient means for urging saidmovable jaw toward said stationary jaw to clamp said rod andhold saidbrake in released position. a

16. In combination, a brake movable in a plane, and a pair of jawsrelatively movable in a plane transverse to the plane of movement ofsaid brake to hold said brake in a predetermined position.

17. In combination, a turn table movable in a plane, a brake movable ina plane parallel to the plane of movement of said table, and a pair ofjaws relatively movable in a plane transverse to the planes of movementof said brake and said table to hold said brake in a predeterminedposition relatively to said table.

18. In combination, a brake, and a gripping device for frictionallyholding said brake in a predetermined position. 7

19. In combination, a brake, and a gripping device for holding saidbrake in a predetermined position, said device comprising a stationaryjaw, a movable jaw pivotally associated with said stationary jaw, and anactuating lever for said movable jaw frictionally associated therewith20. In combination, a brake,'and a gripping device for holding saidbrake in released position, said device comprising a stationary jawhaving an elevated local pad, engageable with a portion of said brake, amovable jaw movable in the plane of said local pad, and an actuatinglever for said movable jaw adjustably connected thereto.

. 21. In combination, a brake, a rod flexibly connected to said brake,astationary aw engaging said rod, a movable jaw engageable with said rodand movable toward said stationary jaw, and an actuating lever for saidmovable j aw adjustably connected thereto.

. 22. In combination, a brake, a rod flexibly connected to said brake,means for adjusting said rod relatively to said brake, a spring coactingwith said brake to set the same, a pair of jaws adapted to grip said rodto hold said brake in released position, and an actuating lever for oneof said jaws adjustably connected thereto. I

28. In combination, a turn table, a brake for said table, a rodconnected to said brake, a spring for moving said brake into engagementwith said table, means adapted to grip said. rod to hold said brake outof engagement with said table, an actuating lever adjustably associatedwith said means, and a tone arm movable by said turn table andengageable with said lever to actuate said means and release said brake.

24:. In combination, a turn table, a brake for said table, a rodadjustably connected to said brake and extending under said table, aspring associated with said brake to set the same, a pair of jawsadapted to grip said rod to hold said brake in released position, anactuating lever adj ustably associated with one of said vjaws andextending upwardly above said table, and a tone arm movable over saidtable and engageable with said lever to actuate said jaws and releasesaid brake.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is afiixed hereto.

- ALEXANDER F. BRUHY.

